Impressions - February 2015 - 63

for most of its sublimation products. It
contains built-in proﬁles speciﬁc to the
sublimation process. It should be noted
that PowerDriver works with most popular
graphics programs, including Photoshop
and CorelDRAW. This software inserts a
color palette (ColorSure) into the graphics program so that a user can select colors
from the palette while working on images,
thereby ensuring that the correct "ﬁnal"
color will be consistently produced during
the sublimation production process.
Whether using an ICC proﬁle or a custom printer driver, the user should print
out and sublimate the entire palette onto
a pure white substrate, and then retain this
color "chart" as a visual reference (Figure
2). The ColorSure palette is included with
PowerDriver, and those using an ICC proﬁle can create a simple palette of their own.
The aforementioned printed chart demonstrates the exact color that is created via
sublimation (plus the RGB settings), so the
graphic designer has an accurate reference
when choosing the proper colors for the
image that is being created.
Though the colors may not look the
same on the screen as they do on the ﬁnal substrate (Figure 3), by choosing the
desired colors from the chart, you are assured that the output will be a match each
time, regardless of what is displayed on
the computer monitor.
The most important aspect of color
management in sublimation printing is
consistency. Any change in a variety of
variables - substrate, sublimation paper
selection, pressing time, temperature and
pressure - will impact the ﬁnal output.
Thus, it's necessary to experiment and test
as needed in order to generate the desired
results, then establish a set of standards to
work by, with the full understanding that
a change in those standards can lead to a
change in the appearance and quality of
the ﬁnal product.
Though color matching and correction
can be challenging to new sublimators, it's
not an impossible process to manage as long
as you understand the challenges. Think
of it as translating from one language to
another. There isn't always an exact match
for each word, but as long as you understand
the concept of the ﬁnal message, you can
create the necessary words to get the desired result.

is the manager of communications for Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston. S.C. For more
information or to comment on this article,
email Jimmy at jlamb@sawgrassink.com.
Hear Jimmy speak on sublimation
topics at the 2015 Imprinted Sportswear
Shows (ISS). Individual seminars are just
$25 if you pre-register at issshows.com.

Suggested

Reading

Like this article? Read these and
other digital decorating articles at
impressionsmag.com:
* "Would You Like a Plaque
With That?
* "The Personal Touch"
* "Simple Sublimation Solutions"

Award-winning author and international
speaker Jimmy Lamb has more than 20 years
of apparel decoration experience. He currently
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